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Coshocton Fire investigates blaze that destroyed home

Eric Lagatta Staff Writer
Published 4:06 p.m. ET Aug. 10, 2015

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A home at 512 Eighth St. was a total loss after a fire consumed the back part of the second floor on Sunday. The fire was likely an electrical fire, according to the Coshocton Fire Department.(Photo: Eric Lagatta/Tribune)Buy Photo

COSHOCTON – Authorities are still investigating what caused a fire that destroyed a vacant home on Eighth Street Sunday morning.

However, it appears it was an electrical fire, said Capt. Dexter Conkle of the Coshocton Fire Department.

The vacant two-story home was a total loss, Conkle said. The damage is estimated at $20,000.

Firefighters with the department responded at 7:26 a.m. to 512 Eighth St. to a report of a tree fire. Once on scene, firefighters found that the back of the home was fully engulfed in flames.

Coshocton crews radioed in mutual aid after fire hydrants on the block weren’t working properly, said Public Safety Director Jerry Stenner. Conesville, Three Rivers and Jackson Township Fire Departments responded to the scene as mutual aid as crews worked until 11:30 a.m. to extinguish the blaze.

"(Hydrants) weren't putting out the volume of water needed," Stenner said.

The hindrance required crews to shuttle in water from nearby blocks, Stenner said. Still, authorities don’t believe the faulty hydrants altered the outcome of the fire.

“It probably didn't really change the results,” Stenner said. "It certainly was an obstacle to overcome but it was still contained to the vacant house.”

City workers are still investigating what caused the slowed water flow, but it’s likely due to a blocked valve, Stenner said.

"We haven't determined it for sure," he said. "We've got a valve that may be suspect."